The TV Watch - Are the Days of Leno, Letterman and O’Brien as Polite Hosts Over? - NYTimes.com

The TV Watch - Are the Days of Leno, Letterman and O’Brien as Polite Hosts Over? - NYTimes.com: "People are riveted by the NBC debacle for reasons that have nothing to do with talent and everything to do with expectations. The Leno-O’Brien fracas is both shocking — an explosion of incivility that burns through late-night bonhomie — and also reassuring. It turns out that the cliche that comics are angry, bitter people deep down is true. NBC on Thursday confirmed it had reached a deal with Mr. O’Brien to walk away. And Mr. O’Brien, who is getting an estimated $32.5 million, is still using his last moments on the “Tonight” stage attacking the network. And that includes spending extravagantly on frills for the show, like the rights to use the Rolling Stones song “Satisfaction.”"